Momentum top



Dec. 15, 1942. J. D 2,305,019

MOMENTUM o? 7 Filed July 29, 1939 Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES" PATENT e cej My invention particularly relates to an amusement device comprising a top and a flexible element adapted to be connected to and readily disconnected from said top and twisted about itself to impart rotary movement to the top when connected therewith.

An object of my invention resides in the provision of an amusement device comprising a top, adapted tobe spun, a flexible, elongated element which is adapted to be twisted upon itself and 'untwisted to spin the top, and means for connecting said elongated element in a Zone intermediate the length thereof to said top whereby rotary movement or spinning of the top may be produced by twisting and untwisting the elongated element upon itself, and said means being characterized by the fact that it may readily be actuated by inertia to disengage the top and flexible, top-spinning element while the top is rotating or spinning.

Further objects of my invention reside in providing an amusement device of the foregoing character in which means for connecting the top with the elongated element are provided and which comprise, in one embodiment, an element frictionally engageable with the top; in a second embodiment, screw threaded means; and in a third form, an element frictionally and resiliently engageable with the top.

With these and other objects in view, my invention includes the novel elements and the combinations and arrangements thereof described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation view of one form of my invention showing the top and top-spinning device in disengaged relationship;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing a modified form of connecting means; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, generally similar to Fig. 1 but showing another modified form of connecting means.

Generally speaking, my invention contemplates providing a top, adapted to be spun or rotated with such rapidity that it will spin about a vertical axis through its pointed end, and a means which is operable to impart such rapid spinning movement to said top and which may be readily disconnected therefrom.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1, the amusement device indicated generally at I comprises a top 2 and a top-spinning device 3. The spinning device 3 comprises a flexible, elongated element 4 which may be extensible material .WiIltWist-npon itself as illustrated in the drawing whenfstressed in tension and then relieved. To the cordy l'and in a zone intermediate the length thereof is fastened a connecting element 5 which, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises a frusto-conical plug through a laterally extending opening in which the elementA may be passed as indicated at 6. The top 2is provided with acentrally dis-. posed recess 1, preferably-slightly tapered, which is adapted to receivetheplug 5. The plug when inserted within the recess 1- will'be' frictionally engaged by the walls thereof to adegree sufficient to impart rotarymovement from the plug to the top 2, thewalls' of the recess landplug 5 constituting a'means'or a cooperable means'for connectingthe" top with the spinning device 3 and it will be understood that, due to the inertia of the top, the plug 5 maybe readily jerked from the recess 1 while'the'topds spinningso as to free or'entirelydisengage the top from the spinningdevice. H

The top 2 may be provided withthe-usual metal, pointed tip B upon; which it spins and, if desired, the ends of the element 4 may be fastened in bead-like or generally spherical elements 9 which serve to prevent the element 4 from slipping between the fingers when the device is being operated. 7

To spin the top, the plug 5 is first wedged in the recess 1 in the top and, thereafter, by successively applying tension to the element 4, for

. example, by grasping it with the hands adjacent the beads 9 and pulling the ends thereof in opposite directions, and then relieving the tension by moving the hands toward each other, the element 4 is causedto twist upon itself as shown in the drawings. jfIhis operation is continued until the top spinsat a sufficiently high velocity whereupon the top. -s pinning device 3 may be disengaged from the'top while it is spinning by pulling or snapping the plug 5 out of the recess 1.

In Fig. 2, I have shown a modified form of my invention in which the top 2a is generally similar to the top 2 and the top-spinning device 3a is generally similar to that shown at 3 in Fig. 1 and comprises the flexible elongated element 4. However, a modified means is employed for connecting the top-spinning device with the top for imparting spinning or rotary movement thereto. In this embodiment, the top 2a is provided with an upstanding cylindrical stud I 0 which is secured formed, for example, of cord or similar somewhat thereto in any suitable manner and arranged with its axis substantially coinciding with the axis of the top, The stud I0 is screw threaded as indicated at H) and adapted to be threaded into a threaded recess I l in a plug-like element l2 which may be fastened to the flexible element 4 substantially in the same manner a illustrated in Fig. 1.

To operate this embodiment of my invention the plug-like element I2 is first threaded upon the stud l and rotary movement of the element I2 and top 2a is produced by successively tensioning and relieving the-tension on the flexible element 4 as in the manner of operation of the device'of Fig. 1. When sufiicient spinning velocity is attained, the element 4 may be tensioned and tem porarily held under tension thereby suddenly preventing any substantial further turning ofthe plug l2 while the top 2a, continuing its spinning, will, due to its inertia, cause the stud [0 to unscrew from the plug I2 and therebydisengage the top, assuming, of course, that the top and plug were spinning in a clockwise direction as viewed fromabove wheniurther'turning of the plug was .so arrested.

I IIr Fi g. 3 ,TI have shown a further modified form of' oonnecting means for imparting movement from the'flexible element 4 to the top. In this embodiment; the flexible element 4 .is 'provided'with a resilient connecting means indicated generally atx-i3ivvhich maybe formed of "a wire bent to form -a iloop *I4through'which the 'fiex'ible element 4 is passed, as illustrated, when the ends of said wire extending outwardly and'downwardly in spaced rlationas indicated at'l'5'and l6. Normally the arms ocoupy'the positions illustrated in full lines but? m'a'yf'be resiliently ":compressed toward each othenas indicated in dotted lines.

'iThe' top '2b :is' provided' with a pair of recesses Hand 8' which are so spaced apart that the arms IS 'anii -IB of the resilient connecting element [3 must be-eom'pressed in order to be inserted therem.- "When' so inserted; the arms being resiliently u rged apart; will engage the side walls of the: re-

cesses l1 and I8 and serve to connect the top with the fiexible element 4.

To-spin' the-top 2b, it is merely necessary to insert the arms of the resilient connecting element l3 into the recesses provided in the top therefor and to produce spinning movement thereof through an operation of the element 4 as hereinbefore described. When sufiicient speed has been developed, the top may be freed by snapping or pulling the arms of element I3 out of the recesses in the top.

It will be noted that the amusement device of my invention is inexpensive in construction and simple to operate so that enjoyment, in operating it, may be derived by children even of very immature age.

While I have described my invention in its prefer-red embodiments, it is to be understood that the words which I have used are words of description ratherthan of limitation. Hence, changes within the purview of the appended claim may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of my invention in its broader aspects.

What I'claim is:

In adevice of the 'character'described, the combination 'with a top having axially extending recessestherein, of a spinning means therefor comprising a single, flexible, elongated element adapted to be twisted aboutitself, and means secured to said element intermediate the ends thereof and comprising arms resiliently movable'toward and away from each other and adapted resiliently to beurged into engagement with the walls of said recesses frictionally to fasten said spinning means to said top, wherebysaid top may be .carried by and suspended from said element, said arms being movable in a direction axially of said toplbya jerk on said fiexibleelement to separate said top and spinning means; thefrictional engagement of said lastmentioned means in said recesses alone being suflicient to .permit a-spinning movement to be imparted to said top but insufficient to prevent disengagement thereof from said recesses by applying a jerk to the spinning means thereby. employing the inertia of said top to disengage said top and spinning means.

JOSEPH MADER. 

